Just got a ULTRA 2000'..

Fixin' it up..
Tire pressure error... 30psi all around cleared the error. Better ride too.
Keyless Remote... must be the correct # for that car. Scanner will program it IF it will allow to go into Keyless entry special functions programming mode. Most dont. Dealer visit $45. Or purchase a keyfob for $80 and its free.. Yah right..

Any other problems I can forsee or prepare or prevent would be a great help.
Many forum posts have hit around the Series II.. Dont know if GM worked them out on this baby.

Thank you so much forum.

Bassasassin (forum troll)

I bought a 2001 PA Base last fall and I love it. 40K, elderly owned, religiously maintained, black/gray, EyeCue, Rainsense, Stabilitrak, love it. I have done a lot of research on these cars. Here's what I have discovered will likely need to be addressed at some point in the life of a Park Avenue:

1. The L67 3800 (supercharged) in the Ultra has an aluminum upper intake plenum. The L36 (non-supercharged) 3800 has a plastic one. The plastic plenums fail because a component of the emissions systems is located near it and melts the plastic over time causing all manner of trouble. You're off the hook.

2. The transmission pressure control solenoids sometimes fail. I've been told the repair is under $300.00.

3. Wheel hubs and ABS sensors fail. My "Service Stability System" light comes on intermittently, probably a bad sensor in the hub.

4. Brake rotors have a tendency to warp like most GM products, but certainly not like the N and W body cars. (Yours is a G body, as is the Aurora/Seville/Bonneville/LeSabre). When it's time, buy the best aftermarket rotors you can afford.

4. Watch the cooling system closely. You probably have heard about the controversy surrounding Dex-Cool. Play it safe. Have the cooling system professionally flushed and filled with fresh coolant. Whether you stick with Dex-Cool (if it's still in the car) or go with the green stuff is up to you. I would replace the radiator cap and thermostat as well.

5. The seats in these cars are complicated. The motors, especially the front and rear tilt units, frequently fail even with minimal use. The motors are not available seperately from the dealer and must be purchased with the entire seat rack. GM list: $875.20. I know 4 people with G body cars and every one has a broken driver's seat. If your seat is still working, set it and forget it.

6. Park Avenue trunks leak. I tightened the taillamp panel mounting nuts and the leak isn't as bad. But it's still leaking. When the weather improves, I'm going to remove the whole panel and reseal everything.

7. Instrument cluster and climate control LEDs fail. There are plenty of online vendors who specialize in these repairs.

8. I can't address anything related to the supercharger, as I have no experience with them. However, you may want to change the supercharger oil and install a new belt...

Let me know if you want me to email you a list of all the the Park Avenue RPO codes. The RPO code label is affixed to the underside of your spare tire cover. You'll be able decipher all those 3-digit codes and know how your PA was configured at assembly time.

Good luck with your Ultra. They're great cars.

Oh that was geat..

Thanks soo much..

I was already wondering about my rotors... I hit the brakes hard on the freeway and the steering wheel goes mad..
Passenger seat already full up and quit.

Thanks again..

1. The L67 3800 (supercharged) in the Ultra has an aluminum upper intake plenum. The L36 (non-supercharged) 3800 has a plastic one. The plastic plenums fail because a component of the emissions systems is located near it and melts the plastic over time causing all manner of trouble. You're off the hook.

2.

The Upper Intake Manifolds from 1996-1998 or 1999 had little clearance between the EGR metal tube extending upward and the UIM that goes down over it. The heat decomposes the plastic. Then a leak can develope from the adjacent tubes in the UIM carrying coolant around the throttle body area for warming in cold air. By 2000 the design was changed.

The Dexcool question is still that, a question. Some think it deteriorates the earlier gasket material around the throttle body UIM mating connection which is held by a few bolts. Some don't think so if you change the DexCool like any other fluid (I do) at 24000-30000 miles and every two years. Then add a couple of sealing pellets of crushed organic material available from GM parts counter cheaply to the radiator before a good drive to mix it all around and seal any seeps.

[QUOTE=mcmlxv]
7. Instrument cluster and climate control LEDs fail. There are plenty of online vendors who specialize in these repairs. [QUOTE]

Do you have a source for those lights such as the rocker buttons on the steering wheel?

I have discovered that the rear rotors are the ones that really warp. I put new brakes in my 1997 PA and did the front first & cut the rotors. The pulsating brakes were still present until I did the rear brakes & cut rotors. Now, 8k miles later it seems the rear rotor are slightly warped again. I think I will have them cut soon.

[QUOTE=mcmlxv]
7. Instrument cluster and climate control LEDs fail. There are plenty of online vendors who specialize in these repairs. [QUOTE]

Do you have a source for those lights such as the rocker buttons on the steering wheel?


Check: eBay Stores: "Speedometer Sales and Service."

They might be able to direct you to another vendor.

Just got a ULTRA 2000'..

Bassasassin (forum troll)

It might help to post your mileage.

BTW - Don't troll too much. :naughty:

OH yah. .GOOD IDEA..

57K miles.... not too bad. .


Thanks
And :naughty:.. cant help it.. help help.. pull me away.. quick..
Cant troll everywhere. I'm missing some keys.

:lol:

Low mileage sounds good. Congratulations. :thumbsup:

Dan, I hope you don't mind if we Click Here (http://my.autorevo.com/revo/viewers/PopupViewer1.aspx?IID=64541&PID=2915770) for pics of the new "Bassmobile"! :rofl: Click on any pic to enlarge!
BTW, good choice on color combo! :smokin: Same as mine!

Thanks. Do you like that cloth top? It picks up hand prints easily.
Little things I see as I look back at those pix.. like the little Buick emblems missing from the center caps.. Missing Keyless remote fob.. which by the way is costing me $75 to get. IF you can buy them online, programming them is ONLY done by the dealer or someone with a Super scanner. That was a research battle. A rock chip in my center view. Rear passenger window tint pealing off.

BUT,, its all mine, a week so far.. Right now I'm worrying about the hesitation. It's about a half second behind the throttle hot or cold, and the gas mileage is worse than my 94' by 4mpg and seems to have less power too. My other PU is PUrfect, hence noting the difference.

Tune her up :thumbsup:

Everytinme I bring a 'new' car into operation, everything goes just to get an idea of how it's been treated, IE- Our Taurus looked like the oil hadn't been changed since the previous owner bought it 6 years prior, (filter was even rusted :eek: )

Oh, BTW, my wife collects trolls, but I'd rather not have have ya in the collection :lol2:

Bass...Don't know you, but glad you got the car...was watching it too and was an incredible deal. I found a similar deal locally on a Base model with lots of extras. I of course have the upper plenum to worry about.

Hey thanks.. I specifically avoided that with the supercharger but lost in MPG. VROOOOOM.

Also I didnt know the driver is further back by about 6 inches in this new body type.. Im wondering why they did that.. and where I gained.
Noticed it when I swapped ULTRA cars in my tight warm garage only a couple days ago to rip out my year old Bosh misfiring platnums for some cheapo AC Delcos.

Anyone know?

I noticed there is a pedal extender kit available for purchase (saw at GMPartsDirect) searching accessories (need to search 2003/04/05 if I remember correctly). One for brake and accelerator. Adds 1.3 inches. Cost fifty something. Don't know if pedal shape changed as it is not listed for a 1999.

Not exactly what I think Im feeling.. I mean my head is about 6 inches closer to the front bumper..My pull in the garage point of view I pull past a center pole in my garage and now I pull in closer past the pole with this new car. It may be the whole car is shorter.. dont know.. havent researched it.


I seem to have lost a bit of that feel you get in a Corvette where you plsycologically feel that huge hood and front end out there..
If that explains it better.

Ell Im almost 6' tall.

Bass, notice that the 97-05 PA has a longer wheelbase and overall length than the 91-96. I put this together FYI.:grinyes:

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8717/buickspecsgw2.jpg
http://http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8717/buickspecsgw2.jpg

WOW.. I really oooed and awwwed over that stuff..
New car is heavier by 200 lbs .. theres where my power went..
Funny,, I did notice that.

WOW.. I really oooed and awwwed over that stuff..
New car is heavier by 200 lbs .. theres where my power went..
Funny,, I did notice that.


Power...yes, power...has us base people dreaming of superchargers...

Power...yes, power...has us base people dreaming of superchargers...

Yes, That's not suprising since the base is heavier than a LeSabre and same HP.

But, you can do some light towing.. all we can do is some heavy speeding.

Oh, back on my length and hood feeling...

I got a gold Buick hood ornament on my 94', maybe that's why I dont "feel" that hood out there anymore..
Maybe I can find an appropriate one. Yah, like one that will light green when the supecharger kicks in. :evillol:


AH.. here (http://www.cadvision.com/blanchas/hood_ornaments/images/buick/buic80-1.jpg)is one.